I love all of your photos but your waterfall shots are often so good they don’t even look real… haha. It’s like they’re more vivid than what I’m used to pictures being able to deliver. Keep up the great work brother. Looking forward to reading about your upcoming trip.
Digital photography is a 2 part process. Taking a photo in the field is more about capturing as much data about the light as possible. The photo editing process is where you mold that data, play with the contrasts, show or hide details, and essentially “craft” the image. It was the same with film photography. Ansel Adams did a huge amount of post processing to his photographs. It is MUCH easier with digital. I may be guilty of over-processing and ending up with images that appear more-than-real, but that is what my artistic eye is giving me these days. Maybe it’ll change over time?
Anyway, I’m stoked about this trip! Truly, thank you brother!!🙏
More than real illuminates the beauty of the real. That there’s more to see than what we often allow ourselves to. Your process and products are outstanding. Appreciate you brother
Yep, this is where I consider my images artistic as opposed to documentary/photo journalistic. I'm trying more to evoke feeling than the 100% recreation of reality.
Thanks for the photos Erik. I have known of these falls for years. One of my life goals is to hike the AT and so I have studied the trail and the terminus often. Your photos are amazing and make me want to get outdoors!
Haha! Thanks! I still have a lot to figure out about that. My nicer photos won’t be done til after I get back and have a chance to work on them, but I’m thinking of the best way to give trail updates while I’m out there. Kinda depends on having cell signal, too.
I hope you don’t mind, I downloaded a couple of them and put them into my folder of wallpaper pictures. I change my wallpaper on my iPad frequently and like to have beautiful images to look at. These have definitely and easily earned the right to be in that folder! :-)
I’m honored! The only downside to doing that is that you are getting a lower resolution/compressed version of the image. Fyi- I offer the full resolution versions in my Buy Me a Coffee digital photo store, but there’s a cost for those. I don’t have much there yet, but if there’s a specific one you’d like to see just let me know.
Introversion defeats me nine times out of ten. Uff da. I also love your waterfall shots! My favorite is the one with the stairs. It's a different take on a traditional waterfall shot, but I think equally as beautiful.
Thanks Rachel! I thought that was a neat perspective. It's where people were getting clogged up behind me because of the tripod, so had to do it quick!
Good luck with your next adventure on the Bartram Trail. 112 miles sounds like a good challenge and I look forward to reading all about it and seeing some of your images.
BTW I can sympathise with your challenges at the AT Gateways. I have attended many events and activities where I have felt out of place and overwhelmed. But I have found I am much better at it these days and I think running workshops has really helped. I am much less self conscious. I still hate big crowds though 😆
"Time’s current flows swiftly. March has arrived, and with it signs of the turning season. Here in the lower elevations buds are ripening, giving the trees a reddish aura. The understory shows signs of greening. Temperatures still swing wildly, but rapid change is in motion."
I like your compact and evocative writing style Erik! 👏
Many thoughts here! First, YES, I absolutely encourage you to do some sort of portrait photography thing for AT hikers taking their first steps on Trail!! (I never knew about the Gateway event!) I know a few photographers on Instagram who did this and it was a HUGE hit. One of the more famous ones is a book called Trail Name Tails, where the photographer had the hiker share the story behind their trail name, and they also took a few portrait-styles photos. And if you don't want to do it here, maybe at Trail Days in Damascus, VA. I'm not sure how many folks are actually taking their first steps on Trail for Gateway, but there are plenty of thru hikers passing through Damascus to party at Trail Days. I bet they'd be down for photos.
Second, I'm so happy you're about to embark on your next thru hike! I'm about to head out for the Foothills Trail, and I'm rather nervous! It feels less like a skin that's too small, and more like a comfortable bear who is warm in the den and DOESNT want to emerge yet. I probably have more to say but this comment is enormous already.
All good! I'm nervous for the Bartram, too. I think everyone feels that way leading up and its quite normal.
It's interesting to hear that there are other photographers doing backpacker portraits. I hadn't even considered that, but I'm going to look into it. I was at the Gateway at mid day, so I didn't see anyone just stepping off on the trail. What I saw was all socializing/vendors. but, Trail Days is a good call! Its not crazy far away, so I may be able to plan a little weekend getaway there and see what happens.
Cell signal is the big if, I’ve had trouble loading photos onto notes while traveling :/ the website on my phone browser tends to be more successful than the app in those cases
Your description of how the morning light slowly unveiled totally felt like this morning for me here. We have fresh snow covering everything right now so as the sun started hitting treetops, it was gorgeous out there on snow covered branches.
Beautiful images of the waterfall Erik. I really like the colours and you did a great job showing the scale of the falls. I just returned from a glorious couple of days hiking and photographing with very few other people - no claustophobic crowds for me!
Thanks James! That is excellent! I went to find a different waterfall about a week ago and had a very interesting experience where I did not see another person at all. I’ll publish that essay not this Sunday, but the next. Looking forward to reading about your experience!
Stunning, indeed! And I'm sorry to hear of your event situation. Here's to more comfortable experiences with future stuff. 🫂
Yeah, for sure. That's how it goes sometimes. Bringing someone along next time will help a lot. Thanks Martin!
I love all of your photos but your waterfall shots are often so good they don’t even look real… haha. It’s like they’re more vivid than what I’m used to pictures being able to deliver. Keep up the great work brother. Looking forward to reading about your upcoming trip.
Digital photography is a 2 part process. Taking a photo in the field is more about capturing as much data about the light as possible. The photo editing process is where you mold that data, play with the contrasts, show or hide details, and essentially “craft” the image. It was the same with film photography. Ansel Adams did a huge amount of post processing to his photographs. It is MUCH easier with digital. I may be guilty of over-processing and ending up with images that appear more-than-real, but that is what my artistic eye is giving me these days. Maybe it’ll change over time?
Anyway, I’m stoked about this trip! Truly, thank you brother!!🙏
More than real illuminates the beauty of the real. That there’s more to see than what we often allow ourselves to. Your process and products are outstanding. Appreciate you brother
Yep, this is where I consider my images artistic as opposed to documentary/photo journalistic. I'm trying more to evoke feeling than the 100% recreation of reality.
Thanks for the photos Erik. I have known of these falls for years. One of my life goals is to hike the AT and so I have studied the trail and the terminus often. Your photos are amazing and make me want to get outdoors!
Thanks Matthew! That’s a life goal of mine, as well!
Enjoyed reading about your day and the photos.
Please overload our inboxes with your adventure at the end of the month!
Haha! Thanks! I still have a lot to figure out about that. My nicer photos won’t be done til after I get back and have a chance to work on them, but I’m thinking of the best way to give trail updates while I’m out there. Kinda depends on having cell signal, too.
Beautiful!
Thank you!
I hope you don’t mind, I downloaded a couple of them and put them into my folder of wallpaper pictures. I change my wallpaper on my iPad frequently and like to have beautiful images to look at. These have definitely and easily earned the right to be in that folder! :-)
I’m honored! The only downside to doing that is that you are getting a lower resolution/compressed version of the image. Fyi- I offer the full resolution versions in my Buy Me a Coffee digital photo store, but there’s a cost for those. I don’t have much there yet, but if there’s a specific one you’d like to see just let me know.
Enjoy the coffee! Thank you
Introversion defeats me nine times out of ten. Uff da. I also love your waterfall shots! My favorite is the one with the stairs. It's a different take on a traditional waterfall shot, but I think equally as beautiful.
Thanks Rachel! I thought that was a neat perspective. It's where people were getting clogged up behind me because of the tripod, so had to do it quick!
Lovely photos Erik, the falls look amazing.
Good luck with your next adventure on the Bartram Trail. 112 miles sounds like a good challenge and I look forward to reading all about it and seeing some of your images.
BTW I can sympathise with your challenges at the AT Gateways. I have attended many events and activities where I have felt out of place and overwhelmed. But I have found I am much better at it these days and I think running workshops has really helped. I am much less self conscious. I still hate big crowds though 😆
Haha! Glad to hear that I'm not alone! Thanks so much Gill, that really means a lot!
Wonderful set of photos, thanks for sharing.
That means a lot Randy! Thanks!
"Time’s current flows swiftly. March has arrived, and with it signs of the turning season. Here in the lower elevations buds are ripening, giving the trees a reddish aura. The understory shows signs of greening. Temperatures still swing wildly, but rapid change is in motion."
I like your compact and evocative writing style Erik! 👏
Awesome Baird! I feel like my writing needs work, but it's getting there. I appreciate it!
Many thoughts here! First, YES, I absolutely encourage you to do some sort of portrait photography thing for AT hikers taking their first steps on Trail!! (I never knew about the Gateway event!) I know a few photographers on Instagram who did this and it was a HUGE hit. One of the more famous ones is a book called Trail Name Tails, where the photographer had the hiker share the story behind their trail name, and they also took a few portrait-styles photos. And if you don't want to do it here, maybe at Trail Days in Damascus, VA. I'm not sure how many folks are actually taking their first steps on Trail for Gateway, but there are plenty of thru hikers passing through Damascus to party at Trail Days. I bet they'd be down for photos.
Second, I'm so happy you're about to embark on your next thru hike! I'm about to head out for the Foothills Trail, and I'm rather nervous! It feels less like a skin that's too small, and more like a comfortable bear who is warm in the den and DOESNT want to emerge yet. I probably have more to say but this comment is enormous already.
All good! I'm nervous for the Bartram, too. I think everyone feels that way leading up and its quite normal.
It's interesting to hear that there are other photographers doing backpacker portraits. I hadn't even considered that, but I'm going to look into it. I was at the Gateway at mid day, so I didn't see anyone just stepping off on the trail. What I saw was all socializing/vendors. but, Trail Days is a good call! Its not crazy far away, so I may be able to plan a little weekend getaway there and see what happens.
That makes sense about thru hikers not being around for the Gateway at midday. Anyway, yeah I hope you can get some cool shots, maybe at Trail Days!!
I can recommend the daily Notes + recap option :) Enjoy your adventure!
That method you came up with is a really good idea! I think it will work well as a notes from the trail format (assuming I have cell signal). Thanks!
Cell signal is the big if, I’ve had trouble loading photos onto notes while traveling :/ the website on my phone browser tends to be more successful than the app in those cases
That's a great tip! Thanks again!
Your description of how the morning light slowly unveiled totally felt like this morning for me here. We have fresh snow covering everything right now so as the sun started hitting treetops, it was gorgeous out there on snow covered branches.
Not quite waterfalls though 😁
Beautiful pics as usual, Erik!
That slowly descending line of light is a really nice phenomenon, when you start to pay attention to it! Thanks Kristi!
Beautiful photos, Erik. I would feel the same way walking into that room.
Thanks! I know that about myself, and I'm quite ok with it, but this was disappointing because these were some people I would've liked to get to know.
Yeah, I know the feeling. There’s always a next time 👍🏻
Great piece. and I completely identify with your feelings at the AT thing.
I’m learning that it isn’t uncommon. Good to know. Thank you!
Beautiful images of the waterfall Erik. I really like the colours and you did a great job showing the scale of the falls. I just returned from a glorious couple of days hiking and photographing with very few other people - no claustophobic crowds for me!
Thanks James! That is excellent! I went to find a different waterfall about a week ago and had a very interesting experience where I did not see another person at all. I’ll publish that essay not this Sunday, but the next. Looking forward to reading about your experience!